Schematic diagram of the experimental paradigm in the fMRI study.

<p>During a thinking phase, participants were instructed to think about how the right-hand person would reply in response to the remark by the left-hand person. In the answer phase, participants selected an answer from three candidates. Panels show a sample of the ego-blocking condition (left) and the superego-blocking condition (middle). In the control condition, participants were required to think about the answer to a question given by the right-hand person (right). Cartoon drawings in the figure were retrieved from the Manual for PF Study <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0086036#pone.0086036-Hata1" target="_blank">[30]</a>. Permission to use was given by Sankyobo Ltd.